D.C. ticket causes credit headache

Sunday

Jun 23, 2013 at 6:00 AM

QI received a collection notice for an unpaid ticket in Washington, D.C., from April 2011. The notice indicates I was driving a Buick and listed a D.C. license plate number and driverís license. Hereís the problem: I wasnít in D.C. in April 2011, Iíve never driven a Buick and I have a Massachusetts driverís license. I called the collection agency and they indicated I need to provide a notarized document from the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles proving this ticket isnít mine. I tried, but couldnít get through to a real person and couldnít contest the ticket online. While I realize paying $65 is probably easier than fighting the system, itís the principle. And they have reported the collection to the collection agencies. My perfect credit score has been downgraded by 100 points. How do I solve this dilemma?

Timothy J. Burr, Rutland

AFortunately, I had a bit better luck reaching the folks at the D.C. DMV. They didnít make it easy, but they did provide a path out of this mess.

First, they scolded you about not surrendering your license plates when you lived there more than 20 years ago. ďHe let them expire; therefore, legally, he is still responsible for the license plate,Ē D.C. DMV spokeswoman Vanessa E. Newton wrote in an email.

She said they mailed notices about the ticket to the last address they had for you, which apparently you had moved from more than 20 years ago. Then they turned it over to a collection agency. Collection agencies are far better, it seems, in tracking down someoneís address than a motor vehicle agency.

Now, you have to prove it wasnít you, it wasnít your car and convince a hearing officer this was a case of ďexcusable neglect.Ē

This is another example of just how important it is for consumers to at least once a year get a free copy of their credit history from the official AnnualCreditReport.com site. Itís always better to catch a mistake or learn that youíre being charged for something that makes no sense sooner rather than later so you can try to get it taken care of ó before you get rejected for a credit card, mortgage or car loan.

And apparently itís good practice to surrender license plates when you move.